Missing Media Files, Alias Can't be Found and Importing problems from Canon EOS 7D

The problem I have is not simple. No one seems to know the answer, even when calling Apple and Final Cut Pro Tech Support.

I uploaded some movies onto my Mac OS X desktop via Adobe LightRoom 4 and iphoto. I imported them this way because Final Cut Pro 10 did not recognize my Canon EOS 7D for importing. After I imported the movie files, I dragged/dropped the movie files from Lightroom and iphoto to Final Cut Pro Events. Next, to back up my movies in the only way I currently know how, I connected my external hardrive to my computer, entered the "Movies" folder of my Mac, opened the "Final Cut Events" folder and then selected the "Original media" and dragged(copied) them onto external hard drive for back up. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

The next morning, I open up Final Cut Pro 10 and find that all the videos from my most recent import the day before were still listed in the Events folder, but instead of the video being displayed, was a big red cover, a yellow triangle with an exclamation point and the words "Missing File."

Apple Support suggested that I might have deleted the files in some way or "interrupted the chain" while backing things up(ie moving files that shouldn't have been moved set up by Final Cut Pro's Autosave software or something like that), but the only time I touched Final Cut's Autosaved files is when I copied the original media to back them up onto my external hardrive. The only other thing I can think of is that it might have had something to do with when I imported my videos. I am thinking this might be the case b/c all the movies that are affected are only the ones I imported on the last import. No other movies or photos are affected from previous imports. Another reason I think it might be import related is because when I bought Data Rescue 3 (as advised by Apple since they could only surmise that I had deleted something) I did deleted files scans and deep scans on both the hard drive of the Mac and the external drive. When I locate the files that are missing, there are portions of that file the weren't found, namely the the biggest portion(MB), and in my guess, the original movies…

But I have yet to uncover the "Missing Files" to make the lost movies play. Whenever I try and play them either from Final Cut Events, Original Media, or from the External Hard drive where I had thought I'd backed them up, I get this message:

"The alias “MVI_1906.mov” can’t be opened because the original item can’t be found." and it gives me three options: to "Delete Alias", to "Fix Alias," or to press OK.

None of the options do anything.

The idea that the files are just missing and lost on my computer is no longer a hope b/c I cannot find them anywhere. They are simply gone. Plus, all the other movies that I had backed up in the same way from previous imports, are still available and backed up so that is why I feel it might be an importing phenomenon. I'm beyond hope of retrieving them at this point and simply wonder if anyone might know what happened, if there is a way to find the missing files, and if not, is there anything I can do to keep this from happening again?

FYI, I'd already deleted the movies from my camera as I had assumed I had backed them up. Is there a way to retrieved deleted movies and files from Flash Drives? I know it's a long story and sounds complicated but this is my final plea for help. If anyone has any ideas for what might have happened PLEASE reply.

In addition to that I also have files that say "Missing proxy" but I have control clicked on each of them, transcoded media and changed it to "create proxy" and still some of those files say the same thing, but some are fixed. How do I fix that? Is it related to my above question?

I uploaded some movies onto my Mac OS X desktop via Adobe LightRoom 4 and iphoto. I imported them this way because Final Cut Pro 10 did not recognize my Canon EOS 7D for importing. After I imported the movie files, I dragged/dropped the movie files from Lightroom and iphoto to Final Cut Pro Events.

I don't use Lightroom or iPhoto, but from what I read it sounds like you are saying you opened the original files in those apps, then dragged them directly from the app into the FCPX Events Browser, is this correct? If so I wasn't aware it was possible to do this.

If it is, and if it's what you done, that may be where your problem is. Could this have created an alias in the FCPX event folder but with no real source, or with the intermediate apps linking the alias to the files they were sourcing that you then deleted.

I don't use them to test this, and it does seem strange.

If all the stuff you had previously imported, that there is no problem with, was imported in the exact same way as the stuff you lost then this is definitely not the problem, but if this was the only time you imported in this way perhaps it is?

In addition to that I also have files that say "Missing proxy" but I have control clicked on each of them, transcoded media and changed it to "create proxy" and still some of those files say the same thing, but some are fixed. How do I fix that?

The FCPX timeline says "Missing Proxy" if you change the "Playback Preferences" to "Proxy media" but haven't created any. If you change it back to "use Original or Optimized Media" it should look to the original imports, but will only find them if their still there.

Is it related to my above question?

Could it be that's all the problem was originally, that you had imported properly, and without creating "Proxy Media" then somehow you changed that setting in the "Preferences".

If so could you have then deleted what was really in it's correct place while trying to fix a problem that was only a setting issue?

I use a 7D and an HPX170 all the time. It's not that complicated.

FCP X reads Canon 7D files natively. Rule is, if they're .mov files, use Import > Files. If they're not, use Import From Camera.

Put the CF card from your 7D into a card reader (it won't read directly from most DSLR cameras, yet), File > Import > Files, then point to the folder with the .mov files in it on your card. That easy.

If you want to simply use or keep the original H.264 .mov files, check "Copy to Event Folder". If you want to edit with ProRes, check Optimize. No real need to use proxies with 7D clips.

Lightroom, Aperture, iPhoto, Image Capture are not needed at all.

You import from a DSLR using the file import function, not the camera import function. The media should be copied into the event. You have to make sure that's checked on. Do not use iPhoto, Lightroom, or even Aperture for this.

As others here allude, I think the problem *is* simple in that the original media files were not copied into the event folder, but instead created aliases. This is fine if the files actually exist on your drive somewhere, but it seems for some reason they do not. Follow Ben's advice for importing the files again (first making sure "Copy Files to Final Cut Event Folder" is ticked in the preferences), and then, if you've cut with them before they went offline, simply relink to the newly imported clips. Fun!

It looks like you have a future solution, which is good, but something still seems strange. On re-reading I realise that I missed this.

I uploaded some movies onto my Mac OS X desktop

So you used those apps to convert the files, making new versions on the desktop and thinking it was a necessary step, which you now know otherwise?

If so, it sounds like you imported without copying the media into the event right enough. Then perhaps you deleted the files from the desktop? That would make sense other than that your deleted file scan can't find/recover them. I've never done a deleted file scan on a mac, does anyone know if it would be common for them not to be found if they originated on the desktop, this is common on a PC.

NO matter where a file is, Mac or PC, chances of recovering it are slim to none, even if you go after it right away. Modern OS's are thrashing invisible working files to the drives so often, and in such quantity now, stuff gets overwritten pretty quickly.

In my 20+ years as an IT engineer, and the literally many hundreds of incidents like this I've dealt with, it has always been extremely rare that anyone found much of anything of use when recovering lost data from a drive. So many clients have sent drives off to data recovery services, spent thousands of dollars, only to be told they have 1/4 of their address book and all else is lost.

Just my experience.

Checking off anything the the Preference pane for File Import only effects drag-and-drop import from a Finder window.

If you do not check to copy to the event folder, and do not check Optimize in the File Import window, when importing from the camera's original memory card, then FCP X is pointing it's aliases to the camera card. Once ejected, you're screwed.

Again, I'd personally advice anyone to avoid involving iPhoto, Aperture, or Lightroom in the FCP X workflow, period.

Getting proper training in FCP X, as with any professional NLE, is vital to avoid these types of disasters, IMHO.

In my 20+ years as an IT engineer, it has always been extremely rare that anyone found much of any use when recovering lost data from a drive.

It all depends on what's wrong with the drive, I've seen damaged drives come back with full data recovery and personally lost 1 that had a lot of personal data that couldn't be recovered.

Regarding video files specifically, I've got similar experience to you if there is no drive faults and the data has been deleted. But normally recovery software can locate them just not always recover them undamaged.

I hope the OP takes the advice from everyone. I, too, think that fcpx created aliases (which you can tell by seeing arrows on the finder icons and noticing that the files are very small)

One thing I wanted to add is that if you have not used the compact flash card much since you wiped it that it may be possible to retrieve some data. Sandisk makes rescue pro which I've used to extract files I was forced to delete (long story )

Just a quick thought - do the movies still exist in your iPhoto library? Since that is where you imported them from they should still be there unless you deleted them.

No - the files are not still in my iphoto library, unfortunately I deleted them b/c I hate clutter... Ha. Looks like I'll have to change my ways till I understand these protocols.

Thank you all for your help! I did not know about importing "files." I will pay close attention to all these instructions next time I import and back up files. :silly: